◆ MISSISSIPPI · CARRY LAW
Mississippi.
Information, not legal advice. Confirm with the state before you carry.
Kept in this browser only. Never sent to us.
◆ THE SHORT ANSWEREvery tile below is one of the answers further down this page, with its citation.
Concealed, no permit
Yes
Open, no permit
Yes
In a vehicle, no permit
Yes
Getting a permit
Yes, shall-issue
- You must produce your permit if an officer asks for it.
◆ CARRYING HERE
What Mississippi requires
The state's permit is the Firearms Permit, issued by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Carrying without a permit3
Can I carry concealed here without a permit?
Permitless or "constitutional" carry. "Limited" means some adults qualify and others do not. Read the qualifier.
Yes
No permit needed, but only by a named route: in a sheath, belt or shoulder holster, or in a purse, handbag, satchel, similar bag, briefcase or fully enclosed case. Not if you are engaged in criminal activity beyond a traffic misdemeanor, are barred from possessing a pistol, or are somewhere the statute bans.
Can I carry openly here without a permit?
Yes
A pistol in a holster that is wholly or partially visible is not "concealed" at all under the statute, so the carrying offense does not reach it.
Miss. Code § 97-37-1; Miss. Const. art. 3, § 12Read at FindLaw ↗, not the statuteChecked 11 days ago
Can I keep a loaded handgun in my car without a permit?
Yes
Concealed inside a motor vehicle is its own exception, at 18 or older. Separate from, and wider than, the holster-or-bag route.
Permits and age3
If I want this state's permit, will they issue one?
Shall-issue means the state must issue to any qualified applicant. May-issue leaves it to an official's discretion.
Yes, shall-issue
The Department of Public Safety shall issue to a qualified applicant.
Can I get this state's permit if I live somewhere else?
Only in some cases
Residency is required, but waived if you already hold a valid permit from another state, or are stationed in Mississippi with the armed forces, are the spouse of someone who is, or are a retired officer settling here.
How old do I have to be to carry here?
The floor for the least restrictive lawful route. Where permitless and permit ages differ, the qualifier says so.
18
18 to carry without a permit; 21 for the permit, or 18 for qualifying armed forces members and veterans.
Miss. Code § 97-37-14; Miss. Code § 45-9-101(2)(b), (24)Read at Justia ↗, not the statuteChecked 11 days ago
If an officer stops you1
Do I have to tell an officer I am armed?
"Required" means you must volunteer it on contact. "On request" means only when asked.
Only if asked
Never volunteer it. Carrying WITHOUT a permit: nothing is required. Carrying ON A PERMIT: you must have the permit and ID on you, and display both on an officer's demand.
Buying and owning2
Do I need a state-issued card just to own or buy a firearm here?
Illinois' FOID is the main example. Distinct from a carry permit.
Not required
Is there a limit on magazine capacity here?
No limit
How the state governs guns2
Can a city here write its own gun rules on top of the state's?
Full preemption means state law is the only law. Partial means some cities may go further. Check locally.
No, state law is the only law
Does this state have a red-flag law?
An extreme risk protection order lets a court order firearms surrendered temporarily.
No, none in this state
◆ RECIPROCITY
Permits Mississippi honors
If you are visiting Mississippi, this is whether your permit counts here.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Honored54
◆ RECIPROCITY, THE OTHER WAY
Where Mississippi permits are honored
If you live in Mississippi, this is where your permit travels.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Honored32
Honored, with a condition4
Not honored18
◆ NFA ITEMS
Suppressors and NFA legality
Federal registration is required everywhere these are legal. A state can prohibit them regardless, and several do.
Can I possess a suppressor here?
Federal NFA registration is required everywhere it is legal. State law can prohibit it regardless.
Legal
Requires federal NFA registration.
Can I possess a short-barreled rifle here?
Legal
Lawful to possess with federal NFA registration, but carrying one CONCEALED is a separate offense, because the carrying statute names sub-16-inch rifles by length.
Can I possess a short-barreled shotgun here?
Legal
Lawful to possess with federal NFA registration; carrying one concealed is a separate offense under the carrying statute.
Can I possess a machine gun here?
Federally, civilian possession is limited to pre-1986 registered transferables.
Legal
Pre-1986 registered transferables only, under federal law. Carrying one concealed is a separate offense.
Can I possess an AOW here?
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork. Mississippi’s statute is about CARRYING concealed, not about owning, so what to watch is where you put it, not whether you may have it.
◆ SOURCES
Where this comes from
This is information, not legal advice. Gun law changes often and the penalty for getting it wrong is criminal. Confirm every answer with the state before you carry there.
- The authority
- the Mississippi Department of Public Safety ↗
- ATF’s index
- Mississippi firearm statutes ↗ (PDF)